Jatimatic on the Range

This review of the Madsen Model 1945 submachine gun, presented by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons from the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, highlights its unique design and historical context. The firearm is noted for its quality construction, pistol-like reciprocating slide, and use of Suomi magazines. Despite its advanced features for the time, its complexity and cost led to commercial failure, making it an extremely rare collector's item.

Gearhead Guns is producing a Type 100 Nambu PCC recreation, with the first batch shipping around March. It's available in 9mm Parabellum with 9-inch or 16-inch barrel configurations for SBR compliance. Customization options include various metal and wood finishes, with optional bayonet lugs.

This review delves into the Walther MPK submachine gun, a competitor to the Uzi and MP5. Key features include an open bolt design, a non-reciprocating charging handle with a manual forward assist, and a secondary safety sear catch to prevent accidental discharges. The MPK offered selector options for full-auto and, in some variants, semi-automatic fire.

This YouTube video compares two MP5 variants, one priced at $1,000 and the other at $3,000. The content likely involves a detailed examination of the differences, performance, features, and value propositions of each firearm. Given the title and description, it's a direct comparison aimed at informing viewers about what separates a budget-friendly option from a premium one in the MP5 platform. The video is presented by Classic Firearms and may touch on the heritage and appeal of the MP5.

The HK UMP 45, designed as a successor to the MP5, was adopted by US law enforcement but later transitioned to M4 carbines. While it features a worse trigger and more recoil than the MP5, the UMP is still considered a quality firearm. This review covers its historical context, live-fire performance, and a final assessment.

The Heckler & Koch MP7 A1, chambered in 4.6x30mm, is a German-made Personal Defense Weapon known for its compact size and ambidextrous controls. While it features a short-stroke gas piston system and a rotating bolt, its high market value ($30,000-$50,000) makes it impractical for most buyers compared to other PDW options. Suppressed shooting reveals low recoil, but effectiveness relies heavily on shot placement.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.